Constipated Costa

Hallo.

I’m really irritable these days and feel totally stressed out.  First I loose my job after no less than 23 years working for the same corp.  Then my wife said she’s leaving me not for another man but a women!  After the shock wore off I noticed bowel problems mainly as constipation.  My Dr said I have IBS and there is no real cure.  What is IBS exactly and surely there must be some kind of solution?

Please can you help?

Constipated Costa

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Dear Costa,

The two big blows are seriously stressful and I feel deep concern for you over the next months.  Life is going to be very different especially with all the time now on your hands it’s going to be difficult to not get depressed.  I strongly suggest you contact me for professional assistance or with someone else who can offer guidance and support.

In the interim you asked some simple questions:

1. What is IBS?
2. What can be done to ‘cure’ it?

Let me explain the first question first.  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS or spastic colon) is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any detectable organic cause.  This is why it is hard to define medically.  Your constipation is often symptomatic but diarrhoea may also predominate.

IBS may begin after an infection but is usually caused by chronic stress or a stressful life event, or onset of maturity without any other medical indicators.  In your case it would be important to know if you have had similar concerns prior to the terrible new you mentioned?

Secondly, although there is no cure for IBS, there are several treatments that attempt to relieve “symptoms”, including dietary adjustments, medication and psychological interventions are the usual interventions.  Often the needs are mainly emotional so I suggest this is probably your area of concern.  You mention you were employed for two decades which indicates you are at least into your late 40’s and maturity can also be a factor.  Several other conditions may present also as IBS including coeliac disease, fructose malabsorption, mild infections, parasitic infections like giardiasis, several inflammatory bowel diseases, functional chronic constipation, and chronic functional abdominal pain.

In IBS, routine clinical tests yield no abnormalities, although the bowels may be more sensitive to certain stimuli, such as balloon insufflations testing. The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but it’s usually stress related at some point.  In fact I’m still to meet an IBS who does not have a stressful life in some form or another. The most common theory is that IBS is a disorder of the interaction between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract, although there may also be abnormalities in the gut flora or the immune system.  It is commonly agreed that as stressful events have psycho-physiological and emotional impact.  If this is chronic (i.e. over a long period) the stress can present as IBS.

IBS does not lead to more serious conditions in most patients although it can easily exacerbate colonic disease even cancer. However, it is a source of chronic pain, fatigue, and other symptoms and contributes other states of dis-ease. Researchers have reported that the high prevalence of IBS.  It is also regarded as a chronic illness and can dramatically affect the quality of a sufferer’s life so I suggest you take serious warning and take action.  There is not much you can do medically (hence you GP’s comment) as the primary concern are emotional.

Costa, you loss is huge and you need to heed my warning and find things or people who can support you through this time.  The three things you will do well to learn are to:

a)      Find a sense of emotional calm (e.g. meditation, prayer, hobbies social and family networks)

b)      Physical tension relief -  don’t focus on your bowel but rather ensure you exercise, go dancing, swimming is great as are yoga and tai chi.

c)      Mental focussing – with al the time on your hands in the day and evenings, your mind will get easily distracted.  So it’s vital you do mentally stimulating tasks (e.g. Soduko, puzzles, reading or debates at places like Rotary Clubs are brilliant).

IF you are not responsible here Costa you will get depressed very quickly so you need to be proactive and DO stuff before self pity strangles your decision making ability.

Costa please reply to justin@kennedy.co.za if I can help further.

Warmest regards,

Justin

Kindest regards,

Justin

Dr Justin J. Kennedy
B.Soc.Sci; MSBC; PhD

Mobile:            +27.82.370.2080

Email:              justin@kennedy.co.za
Website:        http://www.stressmedicine.info

Practice:          55 Somerset Rd, Green Point, Cape Town

Take the Type D Personality Test at http://www.stressed-personality.com for a personalised stress assessment.

Tagged as: bloating, Bowel problems, chronic abdominal pain, Constipation, Cramps, diarrhoea, discomfort, IBS